He was originally a hard-working parish schoolmaster, near Montrose.

During his holiday wanderings he collected plants for his extensive herbarium.

His accomplishments having come under the notice of the late Sir William Hooker, he was selected by that gentleman to prepare sets of the Plants of Braemar for the Queen and Prince Albert, which he did to their entire satisfaction.

He gave up his school-mastership for an ill-paid but more congenial occupation, that of Librarian to the Derby Museum and Herbarium.

Some years ago, he was appointed to his present position of Custodian to the Smith Institute--perhaps the best provincial museum and art gallery in Scotland.
I could not, however, enter into the history of these remarkable persons; though I understand there is a probability of Mr.Croall giving his scientific recollections to the world.